SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2397, 8 February 1900, Page 37

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Our Own Cobrespondent.) INVERCARGILL, Februaiy 6. During January our rainfall was 3.26 m, as agamst 3.73 m for the corresponding month last year, with 16 fine days (that is, days upon which no rain fell) as against 10 last year. On Monday morning there was a sharp white frost all ovei the Southland district. In some localities it was harder than others, but I am afiaicL everywhere it will have done a good deal of damage to the potato and wheat crops. A few of the nio-t advanced fields of oats and some of the wheat crops are receiving a lot of attention from the small birds, which are shelling out the com and giving the fields a whitened and blighted appearance. Some of the crops, including wheat, oats, aud turnips, on the once much-despised Morton Mains estate (recently cut up aud disposed of in varioussized farm blocks) are looking really splendid, and this is only one more of the many instances of what profit it is to the State to encourage smaller holdings and closer settlement. ~ The rabbit exporters and their agents are now to be seen in all directions making arrangements for supplies of rabbits during the coming freezing season. They are prepared to take delivery at any of the country railway stations. Both of our freezing establishments seem to regard the freezing of rabbits of as much importance as the freezing of mutton or lamb. During the last few months there have been over a thousand bodies of beef and a considerable quantity of veal frozen and sent away from Southland. It is difficult to find out whether the venture has been a profitable one or not, but I am told it is likely to net the shippers about 20s per 1001b, besides giving them the skin and fat. I hope this is so, for it will then give cattle a fixed and better value than they have had here for a very long time. With cattle booming, sheep booming, and oats booming, our farmers are not having a bad time of it. Eel-catching is all the rage in the Mataura district just now. The Southern Standard reports that one family, residing near the river, obtained nearly IJcwt several successive evenings, which, at 2d per lb, will bring a return not to be despised. Some striking figures, illustrative of the progress made of late yeais by this district, were cited by the Hon. J. G-. Ward when replying to the toast of his health at the banquet on Wednesday night. The lion, gentleman pointed out that the population had increased from 35,600 in 1887 to 46,000 in 1599 ; the number of occupied holdings increased from 3000 to 5300; cropped land from 189,000 acres to 262,000; grass land (ploughed) from 387,000 to 607,000; not previously ploughed, 34,000 to 115,000. Sheep increased from 1.053.000 in 1887 to 1,328,000 in 1899; value of laud' and improvements from ,-£-5,687,000 to £8,000,000; value of exports from Invercargill and Bluff from .2358,000 to £623,000; and imports from ,£132,000 to ±202,000; while the revenue of the Bluff Harbour Board had trebled during the same period. At the Hastings Ram Fair last Thursday Mr John Sutton, of Thornbury, obtained the highest price for Lincoln rams. One of his rams sold at 52gs, another at 37gs, and another at 34gs. Southland last week was the field for almost a week of Ministerial banqueting, all of which has been so fully chronicled m the Otago Daily Times 'and other dailies that it would be stale news to reproduce anything of it m this column. There is one item, however, that I have not seen in the dailies. The Ward banquet, which was the cause of such an influx of distinguished Parliamentary and Ministerial visitors, was at first fixed for a much earlier date than Wednesday last, and at a quiet little corner of the Awaiua electorate known as Waikiwi. It was postponed fiom time to time, until it clashed with a date upon which the people at Browiio, on the Hedgehope line (another section of Mr Ward's constituency), had fixed for the holding of a patriotic meeting. This was a great disappointment to the promoters of the patriotic meeting, as it was part of their programme to have an address from Mr Ward; but, determined to make the best of the situation, they purchased a new graphophone, brought it into town to Mr Ward the day before their meeting, and got him to speak into it a speech, sing a song, and give a recitation, which they gave off at their meeting for a small charge, which went to swell the funds of their cause. On Friday morning the schools throughout the distiict hold patiiotic meetings, when it is expected addresses will be given on patriotism to the children. At a meeting at Gore last night to discuss the question of sending a fourth contingent to South Africa, Mr M'Nab said it was at his instigation that the mayor had sent the telegram to Dunedin asking that a place be reserved Tor 10 men from the Mataura Valley district. He regretted not being present at the public meeting on Saturday evening. Had he known in time he should certainly have been there. With a view of assisting the committee in their veiy laudable and patriotic desire, he was prepared to provide five horses and equip five men ior South Africa. — (Applause.) Each man and horse would cost about £70 or .£75, and he thought they could easily send a Mataura Valley contingent as part of the Otago and Southland contingent. The district round about, such as Riversdale, Wsikaia, Waikaka, Mataura, Wyndham, and Fortrose, could assist, and m proportion to the amount subscribed from such district, any candidate, all things being equal, should have preference in selection. Ihe only condition he imposed in connection with his offer was that he should, after the medical and military examination, have the final selection. The telegram from Dunedin was not satisfactory. There was too much inclination to centralise everything there. If tho Dunedin committee could not reserve a place foi 10 men aud horses, then it might be advisable to communicate with the Defence Minister. He thought the Mataura Valley district should be identified.— (Applause.) Consequent upon the representations made to the Premier by the Mayor and Mr J. A. Hanan, the new police barracks will consist of two storeys instead of one. The quarterly Supreme Court sittings commenced here this morning before his Honor Mr Justice Williams. There are about the visual number of criminal and civil cases, but nothing of startling importance, and three divorce actions.

It is understood that the Government surveyor — Air T. N. Brodrick — who has been cutting up the Three Springs estate the last few weeks, will soon be finished, and people are very anxious to hear what size blocks the land is being cut up into. It is understood that the blocks will run from 65 acres fronting Main road, up to 600 acres on the back portion of the freehold country.